Green Card Immigration Rules

A Permanent Resident Card, or Green Card, is proof that someone from a foreign country can reside lawfully in the United States. There are a number of ways a person can qualify for a Green Card. Issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), a Green Card has become more difficult to get because of the large number of illegal immigrants. At the beginning of 2009, approximately 12 million people were living in the United States illegally.

Privileges

Once a Green Card is obtained, a person gains a number of privileges. Besides living in the United States, a Green Card enables a holder to work in the United States and to travel abroad or visit his home country for a determined length of time. A person with a Green Card can apply for citizenship in the United States after a certain number of years. Finally, a holder of a Green Card can secure a Green Card for a spouse or children under the age of 21 if they are unmarried.

Qualifications

There are four ways a person can qualify for a Green Card. As mentioned previously, a person can obtain a Green Card if he is a Green Card holder's spouse or unmarried child under 21 years of age. A person can also qualify if she has a permanent job opportunity in the United States, and her employer is willing to be a sponsor. People can also qualify if they make a significant investment in the United States, and the enterprise is of significant value to the U.S. economy and employs at least ten people. Finally, if a person has resided in the United States, whether legally or illegally, since January 1, 1972, he can now qualify for a Green Card. A person must declare on the INS forms the category in which he is making application.

Additional Qualifications

To obtain a Green Card, you must be at least 18 years old and have been a resident of the United States for five years, or less, depending on your circumstances. You must have good moral values, have a fundamental knowledge of U.S. history and be able to read and write basic English. As to the latter qualification, some leeway will be shown to people who are older or have a permanent disability that makes learning English difficult.

When to Apply

In general, if a person wishes to apply for a Green Card, she must have resided in the United States for at least five years, or three years if she is married to a U.S. citizen. Application for a Green Card can also be made by a veteran who has served honorably in the U.S. military for at least one year, as long as application is made within six months of discharge.

How to Apply

Fill out Form N-400, but first review the contents of "A Guide to Naturalization" if you are not in the military or "Naturalization Information for Military Personnel" if you are. The length of time required by the application process depends entirely on your personal circumstances. Some people have endured a process that has taken up to ten years to resolve while others obtain their Green Cards in a matter of a few weeks.

Resources

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